Variable color display device having display area and background area

ABSTRACT

A light emitting diode display device includes a variable color display area, for exhibiting a selective display unit, substantially surrounded by a variable color background area. The light emitting diodes in the display area are commonly coupled to a plurality of display buses, in accordance with their display colors. Similarly, the light emitting diodes in the background area are commonly coupled to a plurality of background buses, in accordance with their background colors. A display color control is provided for selectively activating the display buses, for illuminating a desired display unit in a selective color. A background color control is further provided for activating the background buses, for illuminating the background area in a uniform color different from the color of the display area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 08/721,719, filed on Sep. 27, 1996, entitled Display Device with Variable Color Background Area, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 08/422,090, filed on Mar. 31, 1995, entitled Digital Color Display System, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,365 issued on Oct. 1, 1996, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 08/099,411, filed on Jul. 30, 1993, entitled Method of Measuring and Indicating, now abandoned, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 07/767,792, filed on Sep. 30, 1991, entitled Method of Measuring and Indicating, now abandoned, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 07/528,229, filed on May 24, 1990, entitled Measuring Device with Variable Color Display, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,768 issued on Oct. 15, 1991, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 07/337,410, filed on Apr. 13, 1989, entitled Digital Voltmeter with Variable Color Background, now abandoned, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 06/940,100, filed on Dec. 10, 1986, entitled Digital Voltmeter with Variable Color Background, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,326 issued on May 16, 1989, which is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 06/882,430, filed on Jul. 7, 1986, entitled Display Device with Variable Color Background, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,619 issued on Mar. 29, 1988.

This also relates to my application Ser. No. 06/922,847, filed on Oct. 24, 1986, entitled continuously Variable Color Display Device, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,481 issued on Jul. 4, 1989, to my application Ser. No. 07/322,341, filed on Mar. 13, 1989, entitled Continuously Variable Color Optical Device, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,561 issued on Oct. 23, 1990, to my application Ser. No. 06/929,625, filed on Nov. 12, 1986, entitled Variable Color Digital Display Device, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,274 issued on Sep. 13, 1988, to my application Ser. No. 06/817,114, filed on Jan. 8, 1986, entitled Variable Color Digital Timepiece, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,217 issued on Mar. 3, 1987, to my application Ser. No. 06/839,526, filed on Mar. 14, 1986, entitled Variable Color Display Telephone, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,059 issued on Feb. 16, 1988, to my application Ser. No. 06/920,740, filed on Oct. 20, 1986, entitled Step Variable Color Display Device, now abandoned, to my application Ser. No. 06/931,626, filed on Nov. 17, 1986, entitled Variable Color Hybrid Display Device, now abandoned, and to my application Ser. No. 07/157,603, filed on Feb. 19, 1988, entitled Variable Color Multiplexed Display System, now abandoned, which describe devices employing a variable color display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a variable color display device having display area and background area.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A driving circuit for light emitting diodes, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,570, issued on Jun. 19, 1973 to George R. Kaelin et al., utilizes special light emitting diodes that emit light of different colors in response to different currents.

An electronic display having segments wherein each segment is capable of selectively illuminating two colors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,149 issued on Dec. 11, 1984 to William A. Givens, Jr. Two AND gates are provided for biasing, in each display segment, either a first light emitting diode, for emitting a first color, or a second light emitting diode, for emitting a second color. It is not contemplated to illuminate both light emitting diodes in each segment simultaneously for blending the colors.

A multi-colour LED display for seven segment figures is disclosed in German Patent No. 3,009,416 issued on Sep. 17, 1981 to Klaus Gillessen. The LED circuit consists of seven group of diodes, each group made up of two diodes, one red and one green. The cathodes of all red diodes are terminated in a common connection, and the green ones likewise, the anodes of each pair of diodes being common for that pair. Two transistors connected in cascade are utilized for activating either all green LEDs, or all red LEDs, but not both simultaneously. When a low level signal is applied to the base of the first transistor, the first transistor is blocked, and the second transistor is turned ON to illuminate the second set of the diodes. When a high level signal is applied to the input of the first transistor, the first transistor is turned ON, while the second transistor is blocked, whereby the first set of the diodes is illuminated. Since the first transistor cannot be simultaneously turned ON and OFF, it would be impossible to illuminate the two sets of the diodes simultaneously. In another embodiment is shown a multi-colour LED display utilizing three sets of LEDs: red, green, and blue, which are respectively commonly connected and may be activated by manual switches. It is not contemplated that the three sets of LEDs be activated in selective combinations to blend the colors.

A digital electrooptical display with anti-parallel light emitting diodes is disclosed in East German Patent No. 220,844 issued on Apr. 10, 1985 to Thomas Hoffman et al. Two light emitting diodes for emitting light of different colors are connected in each segment back-to-back. Since the light emitting diodes are connected to conduct currents in opposite directions, it would be impossible to illuminate them simultaneously, because the opposite currents would cancel.

A method and apparatus for independent color control of alphanumeric display and background therefor are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,418, issued on Oct. 7, 1975 to Minoru Takeda. In order to exhibit a character in a desired color, the code of the character and its color code are entered from a keyboard. A color code for the background area is then entered from the keyboard, independently of the color code for the displayed character. All entered codes are then encoded into a composite train of pulses, which are then separated, decoded, and used for exhibiting on a cathode ray tube device the desired character in the desired color, and for controlling color of its background.

The prior art does not contemplate a variable color light emitting diode display device having display area and background area, in which the display light emitting diodes are coupled to, and controlled by, display buses, and the background light emitting diodes are coupled to, and controlled by, background buses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved display device having a variable color display area and a variable color background area.

It is another object of the invention to provide a variable color display device including three colored light emitting diodes.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a variable color display device, in which the light emitting diodes for emitting light of different colors are respectively coupled to common electric paths called buses.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a variable color display device, in which the light emitting diodes are coupled to the buses in accordance with their physical location.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a variable color display device, in which the display buses are selectively controlled by display color control signals.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a variable color display device, in which the background buses are selectively controlled by background color control signals.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious from the appended drawings and their description.

In summary, a variable color display device of the invention, having a display area substantially surrounded by a background area, includes a plurality of display and background light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective colors. All display light emitting diodes are coupled to a display bus system. Similarly, all background light emitting diodes are coupled to a background bus system. A display color control is provided for selectively applying display color control signals to the display bus system, for illuminating a selected display unit on the display area in a first selective color. A background color control is provided for selectively applying background color control signals to the background bus system, for illuminating the background area in a second selective colors. The invention resides in simultaneously providing the color controls for the display color and the background color of the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings in which are shown the preferred embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital voltmeter with a variable color display.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a variable color digital voltmeter with an analog comparator.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a variable color digital voltmeter with a digital comparator.

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of a digital voltmeter of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary detail of the display on which measured result is displayed in yellow color on green background.

FIG. 6 is a similar detail of the display on which measured result is displayed in yellow color on blue background.

FIG. 7 is a similar detail of the display on which measured result is displayed in yellow color on red background.

FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic diagram of one element of a variable color display device.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line A—A in FIG. 6, revealing internal structure of a portion of a variable color display device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an analog comparator for developing color control signals.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a digital comparator for developing color control signals.

FIG. 12 is a detail of 13-bit digital comparator in FIG. 11.

Throughout the drawings, like character indicate like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a block diagram of a digital voltmeter utilizing a variable color display surrounded by a variable color background area. The digital voltmeter includes an A/D (analog to digital) converter 51, for converting an analog signal Vin applied to its input to digital data, and a display decoder 23 for causing the digital data to be displayed in a character format on a variable color display 11, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. As will be more specifically pointed out subsequently, the display 11 includes variable color display areas arranged in a pattern and integral variable color background area. The invention resides in the addition of a segment color control 21 for illuminating the display areas in a suitable color and a background color control 22 for illuminating the background area in a color related to the measured value. The digital voltmeter of this invention can thus simultaneously indicate the measured value, in a character format, and its significance, in a color of the display background. By way of an example, measured value that is considered to be normal may be indicated on green background, measured value that is slightly abnormal may be indicated on blue background, and measured value that is critical may be indicated on red background.

In FIG. 2 is shown a block diagram of a like digital voltmeter characterized by an analog comparator 81. The input of analog comparator 81 is coupled to the input of A/D converter 51 for comparing the input signal with predetermined limits and for developing comparison signals accordingly. The background color control 22 illuminates the background area of the display in accordance with the comparison signals.

In FIG. 3 is shown a block diagram of a like digital voltmeter characterized by a digital comparator 84. The input of digital comparator 84 is coupled to the output of A/D converter 51 for comparing the output digital data with predetermined limits and for developing comparison signals accordingly. The background color control 22 illuminates the background area of the display in accordance with the comparison signals.

In FIG. 4 is shown a schematic diagram of a digital voltmeter of this invention which includes a DVM (digital voltmeter) chip 53 for measuring input signal Vin applied, via a resistor 90 a and decoupling capacitor 93 a, to its HI (high) and LO (low) inputs, and for developing segment drive signals a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and DP (decimal point) for a 3½ digit variable color display 41 on which measured values of the input signal may be indicated in a character format. Resistor 90 b and capacitor 93 b, coupled to input OSCILLATORS, are provided for selecting a suitable frequency of internal oscillators. An auto zero capacitor 93 c tends to decrease noise. Integrating capacitor 93 d and buffer resistor 90 c provide desired voltage swing and linearity.

The first display element of the display 41 consists of a figure ‘1’and a minus sign. The second, third, and fourth display elements consist of seven segments arranged in a well known 7-segment font on which selected characters may be exhibited in variable color. In the second element, the segments are designated as 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, 31 d, 31 e, 31 f, and 31 g. Each display element has three color control inputs R (red), G (green), and B (blue) designated DISPL. Each display element is surrounded by a variable color background area, as will be more clearly pointed out subsequently. The background area of each display element also has three color control inputs R, G, and B designated as BACK. It is obvious from the illustration that the color control inputs of the display elements and background areas are respectively interconnected to form DISPLAY BUSES R, G, and B, for controlling color of all display elements uniformly, and BACKGROUND BUSES R, G, and B, for controlling color of the entire background 32 area uniformly.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are examples of displayed measured values which consider exemplary low limit −1.5 and high limit 1.5 (in Volts or in any other suitable units). The invention resides in controlling the color of background area 32 to indicate whether the measured value lies within the bounds of the low and high limits, below the low limit, or above the high limit. FIG. 5 shows a display on which a measured value 1.234 is displayed on green background, to indicate that it lies within the bounds of the low and high limits. FIG. 6 shows a display on which a measured value −1.789 is displayed on blue background, to indicate that it lies below the low limit. FIG. 7 shows a display on which a measured value 1.956 is displayed on red background, to indicate that it lies above the high limit. To render the illustration less complex, all measured values are displayed in yellow color. It will be appreciated that the color of the display may be also varied, to enhance the presentation, as described in more detail in the above identified copending application.

It is readily apparent that the method of displaying measured values shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is extremely advantageous. Being completely surrounded by the background area 32, all display elements of the display 41 are distinctly associated therewith. It is perfectly clear that the color of the background area relates only to the values exhibited on the display elements within its boundaries, and not to values exhibited on display elements which may be located outside the boundaries.

Proceeding now to the detailed description, in FIG. 8 is shown a simplified schematic diagram of a one-character 7-segment variable color display element with variable color background. Each display segment of the display element includes a triad of closely adjacent LEDs: a red LED 1, green LED 2, and blue LED 3 which are adapted for producing a composite light signal of a variable color. To facilitate the illustration, the LEDs are designated by segment letters, e. g., red LED in the segment b is shown at 1 b, green LED in the segment d is shown at 2 d, and blue LED in the segment f is shown at 3 f. The background area is comprised of background regions adjacent the display segments. Each background region includes a triad of closely adjacent LEDs: a red LED 4, green LED 5, and blue LED 6 which are adapted for producing a composite light signal of a variable color. As much as possible, the LEDs in the background regions are designated by letters of adjacent display segments.

The cathodes of all red, green, and blue display LED triads are interconnected in each display segment and electrically connected to respective inputs a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and DP (decimal point) which may be coupled to the outputs of DVM chip 53 viewed in FIG. 4. The anodes of all display red LEDs 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, 1 e, 1 f, 1 g, and 1 i are commonly coupled to an electric path referred to as a display red bus 12. The anodes of all display green LEDs 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, 2 g, and 2 i are commonly coupled to a like electric path referred to as a display green bus 13. The anodes of all display blue LEDs 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, 3 d, 3 e, 3 f, 3 g, and 3 i are commonly coupled to a like electric path referred to as a display blue bus 14.

In a similar fashion, the anodes of all background red LEDs 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, 4 f, 4 g, and 4 h are commonly coupled to an electric path referred to as a background red bus 16. The anodes of all background green LEDs 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 e, 5 f, 5 g, and 5 h are commonly coupled to a like electric path referred to as a background green bus 17. The anodes of all background blue LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d, 6 e, 6 f, 6 g, and 6 h are commonly coupled to a like electric path referred to as a background blue bus 18. The cathodes of all red, green, and blue LED triads in each background region are grounded.

The display red bus 12 is connected to the output of a non-inverting buffer 25 a capable of sourcing sufficient current to illuminate all display red LEDs. The display green bus 13 is connected to the output of a like buffer 25 b. The display blue bus 14 is connected to the output of a like buffer 25 c. The background red bus 16 is connected to the output of a like buffer 25 d. The background green bus 17 is connected to the output of a like buffer 25 e. The background blue bus 18 is connected to the output of a like buffer 25 f. It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that current limiting resistors may be connected in series with all LEDs in the circuit to constrain current flow.

The operation of the display element shown in FIG. 4 will be now explained on example of illuminating digit ‘1’in yellow color. To exhibit decimal number ‘1’, low voltage levels are applied to the inputs b and c, to illuminate equally designated segments, and high voltage levels are applied to all remaining inputs, to extinguish all remaining segments.

To illuminate the display element in yellow color, the color control inputs R and G of the display buses are raised to a high logic level, while color control input B is maintained at a low logic level. As a result, the outputs of buffers 25 a and 25 b rise to a high logic level. The current flows from the output of buffer 25 a, via display red bus 12 and red LED 1 b, to the input b, and, via red LED 1 c, to the input c. The current also flows from the output of buffer 25 b, via display green bus 13 and green LED 2 b, to the input b, and, via green LED 2 c, to the input c. As a result of blending light signals of red and green colors in the segments b and c, the segments illuminate in substantially yellow color, creating a visual impression of a character ‘1’.

To illuminate the background area in green color, the color control input G of the background buses is raised to a high logic level, while the remaining color control inputs R and B are low. As a result, the output of buffer 25 e rises to a high logic level. The current flows therefrom, via background green bus 17 and green LEDs 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 e, 5 f, 5 g, and 5 h in all background regions, to ground. The entire background area illuminates in green color.

To illuminate the background area in blue color, the color control input B of the background buses is raised to a high logic level, while the remaining color control inputs R and G are low. As a result, the output of buffer 25 f rises to a high logic level. The current flows therefrom, via background blue bus 18 and blue LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d, 6 e, 6 f, 6 g, and 6 h in all background regions, to ground. The entire background area illuminates in blue color.

To illuminate the background area in red color, the color control input R of the background buses is raised to a high logic level, while the remaining color control inputs G and B are low. As a result, the output of buffer 25 d rises to a high logic level. The current flows therefrom, via background red bus 16 and red LEDs 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e, 4 f, 4 g, and 4 h in all background regions, to ground. The entire background area illuminates in red color.

An important consideration has been given to physical arrangement of the LEDs in the display areas and background regions, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Display red LED If, green LED 2 f, and blue LED 3 f are disposed on a support 10 in a display light blending cavity 8 f and completely surrounded by transparent light scattering material 34. When forwardly biased, the LEDs 1 f, 2 f, and 3 f emit light signals of red, green, and blue colors, respectively, which are blended by passing through light scattering material 34, acting to disperse the light signals, to form a composite light signal that emerges at the upper surface 35 f. The color of the composite light signal may be controlled by varying the portions of red, green, and blue light signals. Display red LED 1 b, green LED 2 b, and blue LED 3 b are similarly disposed in a display light blending cavity 8 b and may be similarly activated.

In a similar fashion, background red LED 4 g, green LED 5 g, and blue LED 6 g are disposed on the support 10 in a background light blending cavity 9 g and surrounded by transparent light scattering material 34. When forwardly biased, the LEDs 4 g, 5 g, and 6 g emit light signals of red, green, and blue colors, respectively, which are blended by passing through the light scattering material 34 to form a composite light signal of a composite color that emerges at the upper surface 36 g.

The display light blending cavities are optically separated from adjacent background light blending cavities by opaque walls. The display light blending cavity 8 f is defined by walls 7 a and 7 b. The walls have generally smooth inclined surfaces defining an obtuse angle with the support 10. The walls 7 b and 7 c similarly define a background light blending cavity 9 g therebetween. In a similar fashion, the display light blending cavity 8 b is defined by the walls 7 c and 7 d. The width of the top surfaces of the opaque walls is uniform and distinctly less than the width of the display areas or background regions so as to minimize the boundaries therebetween. The top surfaces of the opaque walls and top surfaces of the display areas and background regions are in the same plane to allow wide angle observation of the display device. Although the walls and light blending cavities are shown to be of certain shapes and dimensions, it is envisioned that they may be modified and rearranged.

In FIG. 10, the input signal Vin is applied to the interconnected inputs of two analog comparators 82 a, 82 b in a classic ‘window’ comparator configuration. When the input voltage is lower than the low voltage limit Vlo, set by a potentiometer 92 a, the output of comparator 82 a drops to a low logic level, thereby forcing the output of an inverter 65 a to rise to a high logic level to develop active color control signal B.

When the input voltage is higher than the high voltage limit Vhi, set by a potentiometer 92 b, the output of comparator 82 b drops to a low logic level, thereby forcing the output of an inverter 65 b to rise to a high logic level to develop active color control signal R.

When the input voltage is between the low voltage limit Vlo and high voltage limit Vhi, the outputs of comparators 82 a, 82 b rise to a high logic level (pull-up resistors 91 a, 91 b ensure correct high and low levels), thereby causing the output of AND gate 66 to rise to a high logic level to develop active color control signal G. The outputs B, G, and R may be respectively coupled to like inputs of the background buses in FIG. 4 to cause the background area 32 to illuminate in one of three colors in accordance with the range in which the measured voltage lies.

In FIG. 11 is shown a schematic diagram of a digital voltmeter with a comparator for developing color control signals. A DVM chip 54 measures input signal Vin applied via a resistor 90 f to its input IN and develops at its outputs A, B, C, D of Units, Tens, Hundreds, and Thousand digital data corresponding to the value of measured input signal. The input INIT CONV (initiate conversion) is tied to a high logic level for causing the DVM chip to measure continuously. The output digital data are simultaneously applied to the inputs A0 to A12 of a 13-bit digital comparator 85 a and to the inputs A0 to A12 of a like comparator 85 b. Two 8 -bit latches 63 a, having its outputs Q0 to Q7 respectively coupled to the inputs B0 to B7 of comparator 85 a, and 63 b, having its outputs Q0 to Q4 respectively coupled to the inputs B8 to B12 of comparator 85 a, are provided for storing a digital representation of a low limit. Two like latches 63 c, having its outputs Q0 to Q7 respectively coupled to the inputs B0 to B7 of comparator 85 b, and 63 d, having its outputs Q0 to Q4 respectively coupled to the inputs B8 to B12 of comparator 85 b, are provided for storing a digital representation of a high limit. The comparator 85 a effects a comparison of the output digital data with the low limit and develops comparison signals accordingly. The comparator 85 b effects a comparison of the output digital data with the high limit and develops comparison signals accordingly. It would be obvious that data in the latches may be readily changed by applying new data to the inputs D0 to D7 and clocking same into the latches (not shown).

When the output digital data of DVM chip 54 are less than the low limit, the output ‘<’ of comparator 85 a rises to a high logic level to generate an active color control signal B. When the digital data are greater than the high limit, the output ‘>’, of comparator 85 b rises to a high logic level to generate an active color control signal R. When the digital data are within the bounds of the low and high limits, one of the outputs ‘=’ and ‘>’ of comparator 85 a, which are gated by an OR gate 60 a, and one of the outputs ‘<’ and ‘=’ of comparator 85 b, which are gated by an OR gate 60 b, rise to a high logic level to force both inputs of an AND gate 66 b to rise to a high logic level. As a consequence, the output of OR gate 66 b rises to a high logic level to generate active color control signal G. The comparison outputs B, C, and R may be respectively coupled to like inputs of the background buses in FIG. 4 for causing the background area 32 of the display 41 to illuminate either in blue color when the measured value is less than the low limit, in red color when the measured value is greater than the high limit, or in green color when the measured value is within the bounds of the low and high limits. It would be obvious that the color sequences could be readily changed by differently interconnecting the comparison outputs with the background color control inputs.

FIG. 12 is a detail of one of 13-bit digital comparators 85 a, 85 b in FIG. 11. It will be appreciated that both digital comparators 85 a, 85 b may be substantially same. The comparison inputs ‘<’, ‘=’, and ‘>’ of four 4-bit digital comparators 86 a, 86 b, 86 c, and 86 d are respectively coupled to like preceding outputs, in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art, to extend the comparison range to 13 bits.

The invention may be now briefly summarized. A display device having a variable color display area and a variable color background area was disclosed. The display area includes a plurality of display segments arranged in a pattern for selectively exhibiting a plurality of display units. Each display segment includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective colors. The background area, adjacent to the display area, also includes a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective colors. A bus system is provided, to which the light emitting diodes are coupled in accordance with their location, either in the display segments or in the background area, and in accordance with their colors. A color control is provided for activating the bus system for illuminating a selected display unit, on certain of the display segments, in a first selective color, and for illuminating the background area in a second selective color.

The term “variable color background area” should be interpreted broadly as any background area integral with, adjacent to, or associated with, the display device and capable of being illuminated in a selective color.

It would be obvious that persons skilled in the art may resort to modifications in the construction of the preferred embodiments shown herein, without departing from the scope, as defined in the appended claims, and the spirit of the invention. It is contemplated that the principles of the invention may be also applied to numerous diverse types of display devices, such as liquid crystal devices, plasma devices, luminescent devices, cathode ray tube devices, and the like.

CORRELATION TABLE

This is a correlation table of reference characters used in the drawings herein, their descriptions, and examples of commercially available parts.

# DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE 1 display red LED 2 display green LED 3 display blue LED 4 background red LED 5 background green LED 6 background blue LED 7 opaque wall 8 display light blending cavity 9 background light blending cavity 10 support 11 variable color display 12 display red bus 13 display green bus 14 display blue bus 16 background red bus 17 background green bus 18 background blue bus 21 segment color control 22 background color control 23 display decoder 25 non-inverting buffer 74LS244 31 display segment 32 background area 34 light scattering material 35 top surface of display area 36 top surface of background area 41 3 ½ digit variable color display 51 A/D converter 53 Teledyne DVM chip TSC7107 54 Teledyne DVM chip TSC8750 60 2-input OR gate 74HC32 63 8-bit latch 74HC373 65 inverter 74HC04 66 2-input AND gate 74HC08 81 analog comparator 82 analog comparator chip LM339 84 digital comparator 85 13-bit digital comparator 86 4-bit digital comparator 74HC85 90 resistor 91 resistor 92 potentiometer 93 capacitor 

What I claim is:
 1. A display device comprising: a plurality of adjacent display elements, each said display element including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, when selectively forwardly biased, a plurality of characters; a plurality of variable color background areas, equal in number to the number of said display elements, each said background area substantially surrounding one of said display elements and including a plurality of background regions, each said background region including a first light emitting diode for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of a first primary color, a second light emitting diode for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of a second primary color, and means for combining said light signals in said background region to obtain a light signal of a composite color; each said background area including a first background color control input to which said first light emitting diodes in all its background regions are commonly coupled for being forwardly biased when a color control signal is applied thereto, and a second background color control input to which said second light emitting diodes in all its background regions are commonly coupled for being forwardly biased when a color control signal is applied thereto; and means for coupling all said first background color control inputs and for coupling all said second background color control inputs.
 2. A display device comprising: a plurality of adjacent display elements, each said display element including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, when selectively forwardly biased, a plurality of characters; a plurality of variable color background areas, equal in number to the number of said display elements, each said background area substantially surrounding one of said display elements and including a plurality of background regions, each said background region including a first light emitting diode for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of a first primary color, a second light emitting diode for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of a second primary color, a third light emitting diode for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of a third color, and means for combining said light signals in said background region to obtain a light signal of a composite color; each said background area including a first background color control input to which said first light emitting diodes in all its background regions are commonly coupled for being forwardly biased when a color control signal is applied thereto, a second background color control input to which said second light emitting diodes in all its background regions are commonly coupled for being forwardly biased when a color control signal is applied thereto, and a third background color control input to which said third light emitting diodes in all its background regions are commonly coupled for being forwardly biased when a color control signal is applied thereto; and means for coupling all said first background color control inputs, for coupling all said second background color control inputs, and for coupling all said third background color control inputs. 